Multiple Sclerosis and dental problems are in tight connection no matter how it seems at first sight because multiple sclerosis affects dental hygiene, too. But, there are ways to avoid any emergency dental situations and to keep your oral health in good condition even if you are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
People with multiple sclerosis are facing various issues regarding dental health and they need to be very determined in order to overcome them, as MS and dental problems might pose great challenges to those people.
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis such as tremors, face numbness and fatigue make it hard for people to maintain their daily dental hygiene activities since it is difficult for them to hold a brush and open their mouth. Therefore, a standard routine like brushing teeth can be very demanding.
Additionally, dry mouth, gum disease and tooth decay are something that is very common for people with MS because of some medications they are taking.
Unfortunately, not all dental practices are equipped for attending to patients with MS. However, that is just the beginning of their problems. Because of shaking, they are likely to be unable to keep their head still and due to face numbness, they will need help in order to keep their mouth open during the dental appointment.
There are several reasons why a tooth needs to be extracted. One of the main reasons for tooth extraction is tooth decay and gum disease. Impaction which commonly happens with wisdom teeth could also lead to tooth extraction. In the end, there is always a possibility of some damage to the tooth which makes it irreparable.
And what about people with multiple sclerosis and dental extraction? The situation is exactly the same except they need additional care and attention during this procedure.
A dentist has to be fully prepared before performing any dental extraction on people with MS. This procedure requires numerous regular visits and it can cause some additional pain and unpleasant feelings to patients. Naturally, precaution and preparation depend on the current state of the patient.
There is not much difference in tooth extraction procedures for people with and without MS. However, there might be some slight adjustments for patients with MS as well as a detailed check-up of their list of medications. Sometimes, the appointments need to be made shorter due to the fact that MS patients often have problems with long sessions. Dentists play a very important role in this process and should make sure their patients feel safe and comfortable during the extraction procedure. This includes using various dental equipment such as retractors, mouth openers or some finger protectors in order to prevent any unwanted movement during the procedure. Mouth moisturisers can also be helpful because patients with multiple sclerosis often have problems with dry mouth. All in all, dental extraction should be as stress-free as it could be, no matter if wisdom teeth or some other teeth have to be extracted.
There are some doubts that dental work and dental care can cause MS or some additional problems for people who already have multiple sclerosis. But, that is not true. There is no evidence of any connection between dental work and multiple sclerosis. On the other hand, people with MS may find it difficult to have dental treatments because they easily get exhausted so some dental work could increase their fatigue which is common for any other activity of MS patients.
People who have multiple sclerosis are recommended more or less the same recovery procedures as other people. But, prior to the procedure, they should consult their doctor in order to see which medications they could take to relieve the pain afterwards.
Talking about recovery, it is good to remember that a blood clot has to be formed in the space where the extracted tooth was. Consequently, the patient should make sure not to disturb that area. Changing the gauze after several hours and resting as much as possible avoiding any kind of strain for the next day can also be good advice after this kind of procedure. Other recommendations include avoiding spitting, rinsing and blowing the nose because pressure might possibly dislodge the clot. Naturally, smoking is also not allowed after tooth extraction.
When people with multiple sclerosis and dental implants are concerned, there are no obstacles for them to have replacements for some of their teeth. In fact, that is even recommended because it could significantly improve their quality of life.
Usually, the answer is no. Of course, there are some exceptions. It means that people with multiple sclerosis who are on some medications should be careful because some of those medications may interfere with certain dental treatments. The best advice you can get for your oral health is to have a consultation with your doctor before any dental intervention.
